Improved head-pad for horses



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ne Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL K. HUMIHREY, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a certain new andimproved Protecting Head-Pad for Horses, as an article of manufacture;and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,which represents a view of my improved pad applied to a horses head.

Itis a well-known fact to these engaged in the transportation of horsesby rail, that the animals are freqnently injured, and sometimesseriously so, from concussion of' the brain produced by the Contact ofthe head with the top of cars.

The natural movement of a horse, when startled, or frightened from anycause, is to throw its head upward, and the cars not being of sufficientheight to fully permit this movement, the result is the more or lessviolent contact of the head with the top of the car. This produces aconcussion of the brain, which destroys or impairs thelife and spirit ofthe animal, and renders it dull and stupid, and which sometimes resultsin the loss of the animal, from a softening of the brain.

Heretofore no adequate means has, to my knowledge, been devised forprotecting the head from injury Aunder such circumstances.

The object of my invention is the construction of a pad that can bereadily attached to the halter, or bridle on top of the horses head, andwhich will'- so deaden and soften the concussion, as to prevent injuryresulting therefrom.

' In the drawing- A represents this pad, the under side of which may bemade of leather, and the exposed portion of cloth or thin leather,stuffed with hair, or other suitable material, or the pad can be made toconsist of two spiral springs attached to a strap of leather, so as toextend upward when applied to the head, on each side of the top of theskull, with a small bar, or rod connecting their upper ends, in whichcase the spiral springs would perform the same function of the stuiiedpad in relieving from the concussion.

The pad may be secured to the headestrap of the halter or bridle bystrings attached to the under side of the pad, which tie around thestrap, or the pad may be formed with loops, through which the strap ofthe halter or bridle is passed.

If desired, a strap may extend from the pad in front, passing betweenthe ears and around the brow-band or nose-piece of the halter or bridle.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure Vby Letters Patent,lis

The protecting head-pad for horses, as a new article of manufacture,substantially as set forth.

DANL K. HUMPHREY. Witnesses:

JAY HYATT, AUG. B. FITCH.

